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On February 12, 2026, a federal district court in the Eastern District of Texas vacated the Federal Trade Commission’s new Hart‑Scott‑Rodino Act premerger notification form, concluding that in its 2025 comprehensive overhaul of the nearly 50-year old form, the agency exceeded its statutory authority and acted arbitrarily and capriciously under the Administrative Procedure Act. Although the court ordered the new form set aside, the Fifth Circuit has issued an administrative stay while it considers the FTC’s emergency motion for a stay pending appeal. As a result, the new HSR form remains in effect at this time. Parties preparing HSR filings should be aware that filing requirements may shift quickly depending on the Fifth Circuit’s forthcoming decision.

Elizabeth Bradley, Global Practice Group Leader for our Tax, Employee Benefits and Private Client practice, provided insight on ‘Nearly half of business rates appeals taking over 12 months to resolve’ in an article published in Property Week on 18 February 2026.